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Certificate in Competitive (Business) Intelligence

| What is Competitive Intelligence? | Job Market |

| Competitive Intelligence Certificate |
| Why Our Certificate? | Our Program Will | Required Courses |
| Optional Courses | Prerequisites |
| Continuing Education/College Credit |

| Competitive Intelligence Certificate - Course Information |
| Competitive Intelligence in a Global Economy |
| Writing for Business Intelligence Analysis |
| Research and Business Decision Making for Competitive Intelligence |
| Analysis Techniques for Competitive Intelligence |
| Independent Study & Executive Briefing for Competitive Intelligence |
| Terrorism |

Notre Dame College is proud to work in cooperation with members of the Society for Competitive Intelligence of North East Ohio to offer a “cutting edge” certificate for the Ohio business community.

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What is Competitive Intelligence?

Competitive Intelligence analysts provide knowledge to pilot a company towards competitive success while maintaining the highest ethical standards. Awareness of the latest developments in information gathering, analysis, and dissemination as well as networking is a vital component of the CI field.

“While some decision makers may attempt to sail blindly through the global marketplace, it is the duty of the trained CI professional to show them alternative courses that will avoid potential dangers, and to take advantage of the tactics and strategies that lead to bottom-line success. “ (Society for Competitive Intelligence Professionals)

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Job Market:

The expansion of the economy into a global marketplace has changed the landscape for many business and marketing individuals. The need to understand the world of competitive business and gather information in an ethical manner is essential. Large and small businesses, local, national, and international, are asking their marketing staffs to research, analyze, and predict the future competition to their product.

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Competitive Intelligence Certificate

Why Our Certificate?

Notre Dame College’s Certificate in Competitive Intelligence is cutting edge. Just as the college was first in Intelligence Analysis for Homeland Security in Ohio, NDC is meeting the challenge for today’s business, by offering this unique program for business and marketing personnel.It is timely, flexible, tuition friendly, and is taught by local competitive analysts.

Our Program Will:

  • Provide you with the skills to work as analysts for business and non-profits.
  • Develop your skills in research, analysis, writing, and briefing skills.
  • Use highly qualified, experienced faculty from the competitive intelligence field.
  • Provide for completion in one within one year.
  • Give you a fast track to qualify for one of the fastest growing jobs in today economy.

Courses: (Required)

  • Competitive (Business) Intelligence in a Global Marketplace
  • Writing for Business Intelligence Analysis
  • Research & Business Decision Making for Competitive Intelligence
  • Analysis Techniques for Competitive Intelligence
  • Independent Study and Executive Briefing (Competitive Intelligence)

Optional Elective:

  • Terrorism

Admission Prerequisites:

Minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or related field.

Continuing Education/College Credit

Undergraduate college credit OR Continuing Education credits

Opportunities to meet adult needs.

  • Spring 2008 Cohort starts March, 2008

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Competitive Intelligence Certificate - Course Information

Competitive Intelligence in a Global Marketplace

Geary Soska, MBA, Goodyear
Dates: March 28-29, April 4-5, 18-19, 25-26, 2008 (repeated)
August 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 2008
Times: Friday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Notre Dame College Administration Bldg.

Market research has existed in the corporate world for many decades as a tool for guiding business strategy decisions. In the hyper-competitive global marketplace, the corporate world finds itself battling for survival. Business or competitive intelligence (CI) is a key focal point for executive decision makers. This course provides a solid foundation in business/competitive intelligence by exploring the information gathering and analysis process. Ethical behaviors associated with information gathering, the U.S. Economic Espionage Act of 1966, information management and reporting techniques, for establishing an internal business/competitive intelligence function, are covered.

Undergraduate Credit: 3 semester hours
Undergraduate Course #: IP351
Undergraduate Course Cost: $450

Continuing Ed. Credit: 40 contact hours
Continuing Ed. Course # INT1001
Continuing Ed. Credit Cost: $300

Text(s):
Larry Kahanar
Competitive Intelligence…How To Gather, Analyze, and Use Information To Move Your Business to the Top
Simon & Schuster
Touchstone Book, NY

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Writing for Business Intelligence Analysis

Wendy Peterson, MBA, KeyBank
Dates:
August 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 2008
Times: Friday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Notre Dame College Administration Bldg.

The ability to effectively communicate information is a critical skill in the field of intelligence analysis. This course allows students to practice their writing and briefing skills through extensive use of practical exercises. The hallmarks of good intelligence writing and briefing—accuracy, brevity, and timeliness—are fostered in a hands on classroom environment.

Undergraduate Credit: 3 semester hours
Undergraduate Course #: IP253
Undergraduate Credit Cost: $450

Continuing Ed. Credit: 40 contact hours
Continuing Ed. Course # MGT1006
Continuing Ed. Credit Cost: $300
Text or Materials Fee: To be determined

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Research and Business Decision Making for Competitive Intelligence

Brian Holley, MBA, Ernst & Young
Dates:
May 16-17, 30-31, June 6-7, 13-14, 2008
(Attendance is required at all sessions.)
Times: Friday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Notre Dame College Administration Bldg.

This course highlights and develops capabilities in the secondary and primary collection and research techniques of most benefit to the CI Analyst. The primary techniques include elicitation (bracketing, denial, open ended questions, etc.) and interviewing skills, both by phone and in person. Secondary research techniques and sources are also included in this course from identifying the best sources for specific types of requirements either in online proprietary sources (Dow Jones/Factiva, Datamonitor, Dun and Bradstreet, Lexis-Nexis, etc.) that require purchasing access or reports as well as web-based (EDGAR, news feeds) and Internet sites including the search engines. (Google, AskJeeves, etc.) In addition, the ethical considerations with each of the types of research are covered.

Undergraduate Credit: 3 semester hours
Undergraduate Course # BU250
Undergraduate Credit Cost: $450

Continuing Ed. Credit: 40 contact hours
Continuing Ed. Course #: MGT1007
Continuing Ed. Credit Cost: $300

Materials Fee: $40

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Analysis Techniques for Competitive Intelligence

Dale Veres, MBA, Consultant
Date(s):
Sept. 5-6, 12-13, 26-27, October 3-4, 2008
(Attendance is required at all sessions.)
Time(s): Friday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Notre Dame College Administration Bldg.

Many organizations are striving to uncover opportunities to enhancing income, improve competitive positioning, expand market share, and enact effective change. A highly effective Business Intelligence operation can be an important catalyst in addressing certain of these issues.

This course will focus on varying methodologies, tools and practices such as Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT and Financial Analysis needed to undertake this crucial analytical phase. Program will review important conceptual underpinnings, with specific emphasis being placed on practical approach, developing the human network, and application of qualitative evaluation. Particularly prominent is how analysis is used in the fact-based, decision-making process. Curriculum will also highlight differences and overlap between strategic versus tactical analysis.

Undergraduate Credit: 3 semester hours
Undergraduate Course # BU352
Undergraduate Credit Cost: $450

Continuing Ed. Credit: 40 contact hours
Continuing Ed. Course #: MGT1008
Continuing Ed. Credit Cost: $300

Text(s):
Fleisher and Bensoussan

Strategic and Competitive Analysis, Methods and Techniques for Analyzing Business Competition, Prentice Hall

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Independent Study & Executive Briefing for Competitive Intelligence

CI Staff
Date(s):
Oct. 17, 2008
Time(s): Friday, 5:30 PM
Location: Notre Dame College Administration Bldg.

The independent study project will require the integration of previous coursework into a written project directed by a faculty member. A topic related to the field of intelligence must be approved by a faculty advisor. Students are required to meet periodically with their faculty advisor during the course of the research. A paper of high academic quality will be the final product. A formal presentation of the paper before a small audience will allow students to practice their intelligence briefing skills.

Prerequisite: Completion of IP351, BU250, IP253, BU352 or INT1001, MGT1006, MGT1007, MGT1008

Undergraduate Credit: 3 semester hours
Undergraduate Course # BU491
Undergraduate Credit Cost: $450

Continuing Ed. Credit: 40 contact hours
Continuing Ed. Course #: MGT 1008
Continuing Ed. Credit Cost: $300

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Terrorism (Optional Elective)

Date(s): Friday & Saturday, June 6-7, June 13-14 June 20-21, June 27-28, 2008 (Attendance is required at all sessions.)
Time(s): Friday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM,
Saturday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Notre Dame College Administration Bldg.

Terrorism as a form of political violence has taken “center stage” around the world and constitutes a significant threat to the security of all nations. This course examines the nature and extent of international terrorism and focuses on the mechanisms used by governments and their security agencies to detect and prevent acts of terrorism. The role of intelligence in law enforcement and national security anti-terrorist efforts is examined in the context of current affairs. Selected case studies will address the motives, tactics, and financing of terrorist groups operating today.

Undergraduate Credit: 3 semester hours
Undergraduate Course #: IP350
Undergraduate Course Cost: $450

Continuing Ed. Credit: 40 contact hours
Continuing Ed. Course #: INT1004
Continuing Ed. Credit Cost: $300

Text(s):
Cragin/Daly
The Dynamic Terrorist: An Assessment of Group Motivations and Capabilities in a Changing World, Rand, 2004

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